Sensemaker

Since the pandemic, online chess has seen an unprecedented rise in popularity. Now tensions are rising between new personalities and an old guard who want to protect the game's traditional format. Writer & Producer: Jonathan LewisHost: Ada BarumeEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Gary Marshall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a second civilian is killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis, pressure is mounting for a formal investigation into the shooting. Trump has recalled the senior border patrol commander in charge of the operation in Minneapolis, but does this represent a real scaling back of immigration enforcement in Minnesota?Writer: Madeleine ParrProducer: Madeleine ParrHost: Ada BaruméEpisode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After widespread protests in Iran, the regime has reasserted control. Now, evidence showing the scale of the violence is starting to emerge. With America threatening military attack, will the Iranian regime be able to survive?Writer: Serena CesareoProducer: Amalie SortlandHost: Ada BaruméExecutive Producer: Gary Marshall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some 60 countries have been invited to join the Board, and each would have to pay a billion dollars if they want to become permanent members. Trump will be its inaugural Chairman, a position he can hold for life. Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With a vote of support in the house of Lords, the government is under increasing pressure to ban social media for under 16s. But will Keir Starmer back a ban?Writer: Ada BaruméProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Casey Magloire : Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Smithsonian is the world's largest museum. It has been in Donald Trump's cross-hairs since the start of his second term, as he vows to kill off ‘woke'. How far will Donald Trump go in using the Smithsonian to rewrite American history?Writer: Jess SwinburneProducer: Amalie Sortland Photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Diary of CEO host Steven Bartlett faced backlash online following an interview with Christopher Williamson where they hypothesise the reason for the declining birth rate. Is the birth rate declining and should we be concerned?Writer: Casey MagloireProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Ada BaruméEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Gary Marshall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Donald Trump's push to acquire Greenland is part of a growing quest for influence in the Arctic, the planet's coldest frontier, where Russia has interests in Norwegian archipelago Svalbard.Host: Casey MagloireWriter and Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Gary Marshall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the government is expected to decide whether to approve plans for a new Chinese embassy in London. Critics warn it could be used for cyber attacks or as a base for espionage. Could it pose a threat to national security?Writer: Jonathan LewisProducer: Jonathan LewisHost: Ada BaruméEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tens of thousands of people in South East England have been without water for days. What's gone wrong and how much is the water company South East Water, to blame? Host: Casey MagloireWriter: Ada BaruméProducer: Amalie SortlandExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year into Donald Trump's second term, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has become America's most powerful – and in some quarters most feared – federal agency. Writer: Serena CesareoProducer: Serena CesareoHost: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the 8th of January, the Metropolitan Police released a report into failures in vetting and recruitment of officers involved in misconduct or criminal offences. Host: Ada BarumeWriter: Amalie SortlandProducer: Casey MagloireAdditional reporting: Madeleine Parr Episode Photography: Sofia Fenton Executive producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week the US inverted its food pyramid, placing high protein foods like meat and dairy at the top. How did we get here and is this good food guidance?Writer: Jonathan LewisProducer: Jonathan LewisHost: Ada BarumeEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Gary Marshall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hundreds have reportedly been killed in violent clashes with police as protests demanding regime change erupt across Iran.Host: Casey MagloireWriter & Producer: Amalie Sortland and Poppy BullardEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok has been generating sexualised images of women and children on X. Can anything be done about it? Writer: Jonathan LewisProducer: Jonathan LewisHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday, the US seized a Russian-flagged tanker in the Atlantic on the grounds that it threatened the “security and stability of the Western Hemisphere”.Host: Casey MagloireWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Poppy Bullard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conservative and Reform MPs are calling for the British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah to be stripped of his citizenship. At the same time Shamima Begum, who joined Islamic State, is fighting to have hers reinstated. How and why does the government revoke citizenship? Writer: Casey MagloireProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Casey Magloire Reporters: John Simpson and Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After attacking Venezuela Donald Trump has suggested he might target Colombia and Cuba, and he wants to get his hands on Greenland too. Host: Andrew ButlerWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years, local authorities in England have found it difficult to stop the spread of slot machine arcades. But that could be about to change.Host: Ada BaruméWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Sofia FentonExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday morning, the United States of America bombed Venezuela and captured its President, Nicolás Maduro. What happened and why? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With AI-generated videos and images spreading online, platforms are stepping up efforts to identify and label them.Writer: Casey MagloireProducer: Amalie SortlandHost: Ada BarumeEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can ChatGPT replace my therapist?As people are turning to AI for mental health support and relationship advice, could chatbots replace the role of a trusted friend, or even a therapist?Writer: Ada BarumeProducer: Amalie SortlandHost: Tomini Babs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weight loss drugs can be transformative for people who have struggled with obesity. But with a spike in hospital admissions experiencing adverse reactions to the drugs, should we be doing more to regulate this growing market? Writer: James TapperProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Tomini Babs Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 100ft wave is a big wave surfing milestone that was supposed to be impossible. Now, a young surfer from California is rumoured to have achieved it, breaking the official world record at the same time. The problem? Nobody can agree how big the wave was. Writer: Claudia Williams, with additional reporting by Ada BaruméProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Claudia WilliamsSecure your privacy with Surfshark! Go to https://surfshark.com/sensemaker for 4 extra months of Surfshark. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A group of climbers has sparked debate over cheating in mountaineering after scaling Everest and returning to London in just 5 days - with the help of xenon gas.Writer: Jess SwinburneProducer: Serena CesareoHost: Casey MagloirePhotography: Alex JonesExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A recent survey suggests Gen Z is fuelling a resurgence in church attendance, especially among Catholics. Why? Writer: Jess SwinburneProducer: Ada BaruméHost: Claudia Williams Photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Buy now, pay later platforms like Klarna have become a go-to payment option for millions, offering flexibility in tough economic times. But as debt piles up and regulation looms, is this convenience coming at too high a cost?Reporter: Barney MacintyreWriter/ Producer: Patricia Clarke Host: Claudia Williams Photography: Roisin Savage Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bumble received more than 20,000 legal threats alleging that the app discriminated against men by not allowing them to make the first move.Writer: Casey MagloireProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now into her 52nd day of refusing to eat, the jailed Palestine Action protester Qesser Zuhrah is in mortal dangerReporter: John SimpsonWriter: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Ada BarumeEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China has started construction of what will become the world's largest hydropower dam in Tibetan territory. Writer: Jonathan LewisProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Andrew ButlerEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Resident doctors make up about half of all NHS doctors so NHS leaders are anxious about how the service will cope.Host: Casey MagloireWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday the government passed a bill which it's calling the biggest overhaul of workers' rights in decades.Writer: Poppy Bullard with additional reporting from Ada Barume Producer: Poppy BullardHost: Ada BarumeEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday the US military carried out strikes against three boats in the Pacific, which it claims were engaged in drug trafficking.Host: Casey MagloireWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Michael WhitakerExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At least 15 people have been killed after two men opened fire on a crowd gathered for Chanukah celebrations, near Bondi Beach in Australia.Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Once Hollywood's best-paid actor, Johnny Depp was cast out as a #MeToo villain, now he's making his comeback.Listen to Alexi Mostrous' Who Trolled Amber series here: https://observer.co.uk/listen/who-trolled-amberHost: Casey MagloireWriter & Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week the Health Secretary announced a review into the rising rates of ADHD and Autism, as well as other mental health conditions. Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Ada BarumeEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Netflix and Paramount are in a bidding war to buy Warner Bros. What would they be buying and what might that mean for the entertainment industry? Writer: Jess SwinburneProducer: Amalie Sortland Photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As of yesterday, millions of Australian children under the age of 16 are now banned from using the social media platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.Reporter: Patricia ClarkeWriter: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Ukrainian President meets European leaders, Russia has ramped up its attacks on major infrastructure, and last week it claimed it had captured the key strategic city of Pokrovsk. Writer: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Ada Barume Episode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vantara claims to house more than 150,000 animals - that's 15 times the size of London Zoo.Writer: Jonathan LewisProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Casey MagloireEpisode photography: Sofia FentonExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish are still dominating streams globally, but what about smaller artists? Writer: Casey MagloireProducer: Casey MagloireHost: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Observer's data team has found that the United Arab Emirates is vying to position itself as a key player in the industry, by looking towards the developing world. Reporter: Hannah SchullerWriter: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Ada BarumeEpisode photography: Sofia Fenton Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.